A classification of a Japanese sward
There are a size, form, a time, a producing district, a style, etc. in the classification method of a Japanese sword.

The classification of length
Length means edge length and don't include the portion of a handle. In principle, we call 30cm or less Tantou ,30?59cm Wakizasi and 60cm or more Katana. However, there are kinds of Tati, Yari, Naginata to add the classification method of
form.

The classification of a time
The history of a Japanese sword begins from the Kofun period. The sword The sword before the curved sword generally called Japanese sword appears is called Jyoukotou (ancient sword.) The sword made from the early stages of the Heian period to Tensyou (1595) is called Kotou , the sword made from Keityou (1596) to Kyouwa (1803) is called Sintou, the sword made from Bunka (1803) to Keiou 3 (1867) is called Sinsintou, the sword made after Meiji is called Gendaitou.

The classification of the producing district
This is classified according to Goki-sitidou.Goki is five nations of Yamashiro,Yamato, Kawati, Izumi and Settu near Kyoto. Sitidou is Hokurikudou ( 7 nations ), Touzandou ( 13 nations ), Sanyoudou ( 8 nations ), Sanindou ( 8 nations ) and Nankaidou ( 6 nations ). Goki-sitidou include all of Honsyu, Sikoku and Kyuusyu. There is a style which is common, respectively in the swordsmith work for every country, and there is the much more remarkable common feature in the swordsmith group further regarded as a family. The typical classification method of these features is "Gokaden". The feature appears in a figure, a form, Gigane, Hamon, Meifuri, etc. of a sword. The classification method also attains to these.

The classification which the style of the swordsmiths of five nations of typical producing districts
The manufacture technique of Japanese swords was completed mostly in the Kotou period, and the Sintou term manufactured
them more often as the model. It seems that technical exchange was made by Swordsmiths emigrate to each country at the
Kotou period. The feature of the taxonomy of Gokaden is that all the features of a Japanese sword are included in this.
The photograph of some typical swords is carried here. Gokaden is classified according to various portions of a sword,
such as a form of a sword, the edge of a blade, and temper patterns, and has very many kinds.

Michiko

Last updated 6-Dec-2001